Without beating around the bush, the presence of seed heads on your Bermuda grass is a bad sign. Yes, it indicates that your grass is under some form of stress. Because we all love lush and blossoming lawns, you need to learn everything you can about Bermuda seed heads, good or bad.

Are Bermuda Seed Heads Good or Bad?

Bermuda seed heads are a bad sign. They indicate that your grass is stressed by improper fertilization, excessive water, insufficient sunlight, or a lack of air.

You may wonder, if the seed heads are a sign informing you that your plants are stressed, why are they considered bad?

Reasons Why Bermuda Seed Heads Are Bad

If someone came to your front door to tip you of an impending robbery on your property, that would be a good informant. That is right. However, what if the informant is one of the thieves?

With that in mind, Bermuda seed heads stand out from the rest of the grass to show you of impending destruction – a weak and unhealthy lawn. If you sit back and do nothing, the seed heads will flourish, and the whole yard will be full of seed heads within no time.

That’s not all. Bermuda seed heads can harm your family. How? We’ll discuss that in a bit. For now, let’s look at the three reasons Bermuda seed heads are a bad thing.

1. They Are a Sign of Stressed Grass

When you see seed heads sprout from your grass, know that your lawn is stressed. In most cases, the stress could be related to inappropriate temperature, periodic mowing, too much water in the soil, unconducive surrounding, or simply an invasion of pests.

By the time your Bermuda grass starts to show seed heads, things have gotten out of hand. There is little you can do to reverse the condition. However, if you love your lawn, you can implement some measures.

2. The Grass Doesn’t Look Good at All

Seed heads are not beautiful. A healthy lawn has an attractive dense green color. Leaving seed heads to dominate your property shows you no longer care about your yard’s beauty. Patches of discolored grass from one end of the yard to another are discouraging. 

You, your family, or visitors will not enjoy sitting on a lawn that looks rough, weary, and unhealthy. Therefore, you must try to maintain your Bermuda grass, not produce seed heads.

3. May Cause Allergies

Pollen from seed heads can cause allergies in people allergic to air-borne pollen. Some people report irritating eyes, noses, and an infected respiratory system. In some rare incidents, pollen from seed heads may cause fever in young and older persons whose immune systems may be weak.

How to Avoid Bermuda Seed Heads

Like other garden plants, Bermuda grass needs proper care and attention. You cannot grow grass and only mow or apply fertilizer whenever possible. You need to follow the good Bermuda grass maintenance schedule.

Here is what part of the schedule looks like:

Mow Your Bermuda Grass as Advised

During the grass seeding season, you should mow your Bermuda grass once or twice a week. After mowing, cut the grass to a height of 1-2 inches. Do not mow your Bermuda grass more than 2x per week. You will curb disease clumping and formation by mowing your grass at least once a week.

It is also advisable to clean the lawn by rounding it up after mowing.

Fertilize Your Lawn

For it to be healthy, Bermuda grass requires fertilizer that is filled with nitrogen. Fertilize your grass once a month during fall, spring, and summer. When fertilizing your grass, ensure you follow the application guidelines. 

Water Your Bermuda Grass

Bermudagrass is a warm-season lawn grass alongside Zoysia and Centipede grasses. Bermuda grass can thrive in intense heat with little water. However, that does not mean you cannot water your grass.

No matter how high the soil temperature is, you must maintain one inch of water per week on your Bermuda grass. Watering your grass during mid-morning allows the grass to absorb the water during the rest of the day. You need to water your grass regularly to attain a healthy lawn. 

Get Rid of Weeds from Your Grass

While mowing is the ultimate way of eliminating weeds from the grass, it is not the only way. Homemade or commercial-grade pre-emergent herbicides also do an excellent job of removing weeds from your lawn. 

The best time to spray your lawn with pre-emergent herbicides is during spring, when temperatures are averaging 55 degrees Celsius.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How long do Bermuda seed heads last?

A: Bermuda seed head production typically lasts between 2 and 4 weeks.

Q: What temperature does Bermuda grass grow best?

A: Bermuda grass grows well in a daytime temperature between 95^o and 100^oF. 

Q: What is the best time to seed Bermuda grass?

A: Late spring is the best time to plant Bermuda grass. The timing is good because frost would have passed, and the daily temperatures averaged around 80^oF.

Q: How long does Bermuda grass take to fully grow?

A: Under ideal conditions, you should fully expect Bermuda grass to grow within 5–6 weeks. But still, others take about 8–10 weeks.

Final Thoughts

Are Bermuda seed heads good or bad? The simple answer is Bermuda seed heads are bad. They are bad because they communicate that the grass is stressed, dry, overwatered, under or overfertilized, the temperatures are inappropriate, or the grass has other health issues.

When they sprout, seed heads can generate pollen that may harm your loved one. Air-borne pollen causes moderate respiratory issues, may irritate the eye and nose, or cause fever in some people with low immunity. 

You can prevent your Bermuda grass from developing seed heads by starting early.